Auto Service Tips and Tricks for Women and Novices

Hi! My name is Melinda, and I have been doing most of my own car maintenance of years. I've always been the person who talked to the mechanic when my husband and I take our cars in to be serviced. Over the years, I have noticed that many women shy away from repairing their own cars, and they may even be afraid to ask questions about the process. I have created this blog for women like that as well as for other novices. In it, I plan to post tips and tricks on everything related to repairing and maintaining your vehicle. If you have a question that you are afraid to ask, I hope you can find the answer here. Happy reading and happy driving!

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Are you the type of person who is reactive rather than proactive? You may feel that you are so busy on a daily basis that you don't have time to anticipate issues and instead only get around to them when you have to. Of course, this is not the ideal situation because you may have to solve problems that have become much worse than they would ordinarily have been, and this can only be a bad thing in terms of cost and time.
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If you have been a motorist for a significant number of years, you may not be quick to seek vehicle repairs when your car starts to act up. Granted, there are an array of issues that can crop up and be handled via DIY maintenance. However, there are alternative problems that should never be addressed by an amateur as you could be putting your car's operation at risk as well as your safety and that of other motorists.
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The temperatures are getting warmer, and pretty soon, it will be close to unbearable to travel in a car without a sound air conditioning system. The problem with car ACs is that they do not just break down one day, the process is generally slow, and if you are not keen, you may not realise it is happening. One of the strongest indicators that your car's AC is falling apart is weak airflow.
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Modern-day vehicles are essentially computer controlled to ensure that they work as efficiently as possible and remain reliable. You may be surprised to learn, however, that the on-board computer is a relatively simple one. Many of the processes are handled by a single engine control unit (ECU), which features a chip microprocessor. If you want to get some more performance out of your vehicle, what can you do with the ECU for best effect?
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It is important for every motorist to know what can go wrong with the power steering system so that the car owner can take steps to reduce the likelihood that those factors will compromise the power steering system of his or her car. This article discusses some of the common issues which can result in power steering failure.
Fluid Loss
Most vehicles currently have power steering systems that rely on hydraulic power to function.
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Any moving part in any machine carries a risk of failure. The more complex the machine, the more care and maintenance it will need. The automatic transmission in your vehicle is probably the most complex component of the whole car. It stands to reason therefore, that you should pay attention to its maintenance. What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to protecting the transmission's longevity?
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When you buy a new or used car from a dealership, you may be offered an added or extended warranty. While you don't want to pay for anything you may not actually need when it comes to your car, this doesn't mean that an additional warranty is a waste of money. Note a few factors to consider that can help you determine if you should invest in that added or extended warranty for any car.
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Air conditioning is no longer only for high-end, luxury cars. These days, almost every new car model comes with air-conditioning as a standard feature. Besides making sure to take your car's air conditioner for annual service, there are other things you can do to avoid cases of AC failure during the year.
Run your AC regularly
Naturally, you might reason that it is prudent to turn off your car's AC system during the cold days, but that is not the way to go, as stopping your use of the AC system for lengthy periods can culminate in wear of seals and gaskets and also faster loss of refrigerant.
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Over the months and years, you develop a strange kind of relationship with your automobile. You become used to its strange nuances; how it behaves in certain circumstances, those vibrations and the noises. If, all of a sudden, a strange new noise appears, then you need to get to the bottom of it. Odd engine noises may mean trouble ahead, so it is a good idea to try and decipher what's going on so that you can have a word with your mechanic.
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During a transmission rebuild, a mechanic will carefully dismantle the entire system, clean the parts, and replace anything that has become worn. When the process has been completed and your transmission system put back in the vehicle, you should find that it runs as effectively and efficiently as ever. Of course, you could always replace the entire system instead, but here are five reasons why rebuilding is usually better.
1. Reduced Costs
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